On October 19th, 2011 a group of library and museum innovators from over 31 countries gathered in Salzburg, Austria to discuss “Libraries and Museums in an Era of Participatory Culture.” Through plenary panels and intensive break out groups, the seminar fellows developed a series of recommendations. One of those groups was charged with developing recommendations around skills needed by librarians and museum professionals in today’s connected and participatory world. Rather than focusing solely on new skills or separate skills for librarians and museum professionals, the group developed a framework for a comprehensive and joint library/museum curriculum. In essence, the group focused on what librarians and museum professionals needed to know, realizing that participatory culture has ramifications for new skills and traditional functions alike. The framework was high-level due to the time limits, but many at the seminar have already found it to be useful. At the end of the seminar major library science programs and museum continuing education coordinators pledge to use it. By better developing the framework with the Salzburg participants, and then opening the discussion across the library and museum worlds, it is believed positive changes linking these two systems of education and continuing education will occur.
Original Seminar Curriculum Development Workgroup:
- Professor Kidong Bae, HanYang University, Department of Anthropology
- Dr. Richard D. Lankes, Director and Professor, Syracuse University, School of Library and Information Studies
- Ms. Deirdre M. Prins-Solani, Executive Director, Center for Heritage Development in Africa
- Dr. Guo Xiaoling, Director, Capital Museum
- Dr. Ross Harvey, Professor, Simmons College
- Dr. Daniel Lewis, Chief Curator of Manuscripts, Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
- Mr. Sasa Madacki, Director, Human Rights Center, University of Sarajevo
- Ms. Rachel E. More, Deputy National Librarian, National Library of South Africa
- Ms. Joyoti Roy, Project Coordinator, National Culture Fund
- Dr. Andrea I. Sajó, Director General, National Széchényi Library
- Mr. Renyu Wang, Research Fellow, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Institute of Archaeology
- Dr. Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor, San Jose State University